Union Parishad Elections
Staff Correspondent
25 February, 2016 12:00 AM
Election fever has started gripping rural Bangladesh, but
the usual poll festivities are not visible as yet. Rather, a state of
heat and tension is prevailing everywhere, with the ruling Awami League
(AL) activists allegedly using force against the opponents at many
places.
Elections to more than 4,000 Union Parishads are slated to be held in several phases and in the first phase, filing of nomination papers took place on February 22 and scrutiny of those was also held subsequently.
According to sources, AL nominees are going to be elected uncontested in 25 union parishads, but in 23 of those, the ruling party men are alleged to have used ‘force’ to ensure this position. At some places, the ruling party cadres allegedly snatched and tore down the nomination papers of the rebel AL candidates or the BNP nominees, and at some other places forced them to step aside. It is alleged that a good number of prospective candidates were confined by the AL activists to certain places and were thus barred from filing nomination papers.
The sources further stated that the ruling party activists put pressure on and intimidated the aspirants into not joining the election fray and thus allow their leaders to be elected easily or without contest. In the process, some supporters of the AL rebel candidates and BNP nominees were allegedly beaten and injured by AL activists at a number of places.
A reign of terror and state of insecurity were created at different places and consequently, some aspirants failed to come out of homes, let alone file nomination papers.There are many such allegations from the victims, but the AL nominees have denied all the charges. The election officials and the police also said that they did not receive any such written complaints.
AL leaders argue that the organisational structure of the BNP at the grassroots level has collapsed and their nominees know well that they have no public support. So, they are levelling false allegations against ruling party candidates.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has postponed the election to 12 Union Parishads scheduled to be held in the second phase on March 31.
The commission took the decision due to legal complexities and boundary-demarcation problem in the unions, an EC circular said on Wednesday.
The union parishads are Ghagor in Gopalganj, Bachor, Hossaingaon and Nanduar in Thakurgaon, Begumpur, Shankarchandra and Titudah in Chuadanga, Khokshabari and Topamari in Nilphamari, Aminabad and Nurabad in Bhola and Kushiamora in Magura.
Earlier on February 18, the commission announced the schedule for the second-phase polls in 684 Union Parishads.
As per the schedule, the deadline for submitting nomination papers is March 2 and the dates for scrutiny are 5 and 6 March. The last date for withdrawing candidature is March 13.
Elections to 4,275 Union Parishads, out of total 4,571, will be held in six phases this year.
Elections to more than 4,000 Union Parishads are slated to be held in several phases and in the first phase, filing of nomination papers took place on February 22 and scrutiny of those was also held subsequently.
According to sources, AL nominees are going to be elected uncontested in 25 union parishads, but in 23 of those, the ruling party men are alleged to have used ‘force’ to ensure this position. At some places, the ruling party cadres allegedly snatched and tore down the nomination papers of the rebel AL candidates or the BNP nominees, and at some other places forced them to step aside. It is alleged that a good number of prospective candidates were confined by the AL activists to certain places and were thus barred from filing nomination papers.
The sources further stated that the ruling party activists put pressure on and intimidated the aspirants into not joining the election fray and thus allow their leaders to be elected easily or without contest. In the process, some supporters of the AL rebel candidates and BNP nominees were allegedly beaten and injured by AL activists at a number of places.
A reign of terror and state of insecurity were created at different places and consequently, some aspirants failed to come out of homes, let alone file nomination papers.There are many such allegations from the victims, but the AL nominees have denied all the charges. The election officials and the police also said that they did not receive any such written complaints.
AL leaders argue that the organisational structure of the BNP at the grassroots level has collapsed and their nominees know well that they have no public support. So, they are levelling false allegations against ruling party candidates.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has postponed the election to 12 Union Parishads scheduled to be held in the second phase on March 31.
The commission took the decision due to legal complexities and boundary-demarcation problem in the unions, an EC circular said on Wednesday.
The union parishads are Ghagor in Gopalganj, Bachor, Hossaingaon and Nanduar in Thakurgaon, Begumpur, Shankarchandra and Titudah in Chuadanga, Khokshabari and Topamari in Nilphamari, Aminabad and Nurabad in Bhola and Kushiamora in Magura.
Earlier on February 18, the commission announced the schedule for the second-phase polls in 684 Union Parishads.
As per the schedule, the deadline for submitting nomination papers is March 2 and the dates for scrutiny are 5 and 6 March. The last date for withdrawing candidature is March 13.
Elections to 4,275 Union Parishads, out of total 4,571, will be held in six phases this year.
